Trading Places (Warriors 96, Bobcats 95)

The Warriors traded Stephen Jackson over a year ago, but on New Year’s Eve against the Bobcats, the Warriors received some bonus compensation. Stephen Jackson’s poor judgment, rather than losing the Warriors the game, helped them win it. Down by 1 point with nearly 8 seconds left, Jackson pulled up for an unnecessary three pointer — a move that no doubt gave some traumatized Warriors fans flashbacks. The shot bounced out, the Warriors’ thin lead held, and a little bit of luck brought the curtain down on an indeterminate year.

In the generous spirit of the holiday season, it’s best not to dwell too much on the nuts and bolts of the Warriors’ final win of 2010. They were on the road and found a way to win against a relatively hot team. Given their prior road performances (including Wednesday against Atlanta), that’s an improvement. Although Jackson’s poor judgment on the last shot and others earlier in the fourth quarter no doubt helped the Warriors win, the team does deserve some credit for maintaining some of the improvements that appeared during the recent homsetand:

The Warriors got a lead early and kept it throughout the game thanks to early offense. It wasn’t always thanks to pure fast break situations, but the team found ways to attack the Bobcats defense before they could get established. Since Charlotte was without one big man to start (Thomas) and lost another in the course of the game (Diop), there was plenty of disarray to exploit. The Warriors did a nice job being opportunistic.

Despite hot jump shooting early, then too much reliance on it even after the team cooled down, Monta Ellis attacked the basket in the fourth quarter to score some crucial points for the Warriors. The inside-outside game again succeeded in opening lanes of attack for Ellis. Smart kept his minutes to a comparatively reasonable 38 and he was active to close out the game — maybe too active on his push-away offensive foul that almost cost the Warriors the game. The game slowed down in the fourth quarter and the Warriors still found a way to put points on the board. No matter how ugly, that’s a step in the right direction.

The Warriors’ role players were far from dominant, but the team got just enough from them to maintain a lead. Radmanovic had some important rebounds and defensive series, Williams gave a burst of offense at a crucial time in the second half, and Amundson and Law were both active on defense. When Curry, Ellis and Wright are hot, as they were Friday, the Warriors don’t need much offense from their reserves, but they still need toughness. They met the challenge Friday and did their part to secure the win. Smart deserves credit again for finding ways to get contributions from them.

Despite these positives, it remains to be seen how they translate once the Warriors get Biedrins and Gadzuric back healthy, allowing them to play a more traditionally sized starting five. Small ball brought home the win against a Bobcats team that was nearly as small due to injuries, but the rebound differential (39 to 50) against a better team probably would have doomed the Warriors to a loss. To take the next step forward, the Warriors need to find a way to combine the improved ball movement and early offense we’ve seen with this recent group of players with the solid rebounding we saw early in the season when the bigs were healthy.

The key to puzzle probably rests with David Lee — if the Warriors can make better use of his passing and vision, they don’t have to stagnate with bigger players on the court. Both Biedrins and Gadzuric can run the court, so the game doesn’t have to slow down. The challenge will be for the big guys to get out of the way when Ellis and Curry want to attack the rim, but with some offensive direction from Smart and consistent execution by the entire team, that type of attack isn’t impossible. If the Warriors can keep finding high percentage shots with their improved ball movement while denying opponents second chance points by owning the defensive glass, they won’t be dependent on mistakes by the other team to steal winnable games like this one. It’ll take improved defense from everyone to make the team a real threat, but there are lower hanging fruits they can snag right now on their way to respectability.

Advertisement

The Warriors will have plenty of New Year’s resolutions to make when the ball drops Friday night. 2010 will go down as a year filled with changes. But whether those changes — new owner, new coach, new players — are meaningful or not is a question for 2011. As Joe King once said, “new year, same goal.” A happy and safe holidays to everyone.

The City, I believe it was both. Warriors were incredibly hot in the first half (we knew that could not continue for an entire game). And the Heat playing lock down defense in the second half.

Bryhsiao

Lee in the first half were mobbed by anthony and thr refs had to wait until lee fell hard to the floor to call the Foul
Lee then went to the basket and got hacked again and had to double clutch to get the basket but no foul was called?
Even a well mannered lee had to stare at the refs for a min

Onthe other hand, bosh gets calls everytime he misses a shot

Monta got hacked by Igus twice straight and both were not called by the refs

I wonder why no one steps up to get a T?
Coach?

Curry got held on his way to the hoop obviously and no call
Curry got fouled by LBJ on the shooting arm and still double clutched for a 3 and made the shot anyways.
It should be a 4pts play instead

And also lots of headscratching outof bound calls

It’s demoralizing when you play 5 on 8 seriously
Heats are too good to be needing any of these shixt

michaeld

Son and Our Team,

You’re both right. The Heat clamped down and beat us. They’re just better. But with the best teams and biggest stars, officiating is always part of the story. “Star treatment” has gone way too far. A foul shouldn’t be a foul because of the name on the back of the jersey. The only thing that should matter (and I know I’m being naive) is whether the player was fouled on that particular play.

high dribble dribble

#208 Bryhsiao — completely agree that Smart had to get T’d up tonight — he should have been thrown out tonight given some of the calls – and he has no concept at all on how to work the refs

that’s one of the many reasons why he’s probably not head-coaching material — seems to lack a killer instinct

team plays like smart coaches – nice likable team that tries hard but at the end of the day are not desperate to win

high dribble dribble

along the same lines i was watching the Heat broadcast and at the end of the game all i saw was a smiling DWright getting congratulations from all his former teammates

sorry — you lost the game — you shouldn’t be happy

FeatherRiverDan

Lee had his best games against the warriors not for them…..I think it still starts at the top..I haven’t check this out but it sure seems like the warriors draft better in the second round then the first…

Son of Ahmed

Our Team,

I’ve spent a lifetime of NBA fandom being frustrated by NBA officiating. It is clearly the worst and most corrupt (or maybe impure is a better way to put it) in pro sports.

But I’ve reached the point where I believe if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. The only way teams can compete is by getting superstar players. The refs are a constant. They will always favor the privileged, powerful team. It is an elitist league. Bitching about it doesn’t help. It only adds to the insufferable frustration. We need an owner with a commitment to getting elite players who the refs will favor. That’s ultimately what Lacob has to do. We’ll never overcome bad officiating until that happens. That’s the cynical truth.

And watching tonight, I think the calls favored the Heat a little, but it wasn’t the difference in the outcome. Focusing on the officiating takes away from where the real focus should be imo.

TheCity

Eh, I think that’s a bit harsh hdd – Wright has been on fire for the WARRIORS. There’s nothing wrong with him greeting old friends after the game, being happy to do so, and them congratulating him on a good game, imo.

None of that means he was happy to lose. And nothing says you have to hang your head and be despondent to prove you’re “not happy about losing” imo.

New post up, but a few points about this thread in light of what we’re trying to do with the comments.

(1) In general people have done a great job elevating the tone and the civility of the discussion. Thanks and keep it up.

(2) The discussion is much more interesting when you tackle a player’s performance, not what another poster may or may not have said previously about a player’s performance. One type of discussion draws others in, the other becomes an alienating spat that 99% of readers couldn’t care less about. If you have a point about a player, make it. Don’t expect all to be convinced by your point and don’t obsess when they’re not. This applies to both sides of the Curry/Ellis debate.

(3) I don’t have a list of seven magic words or anything, but try to keep the language here at a level you’d want my mom to read. We all get frustrated Warriors’ failings, but there are plenty of other ways to express those frustrations besides expletives.

(4) As always, don’t fall for baiting comments. I’m not able to keep up with these comments in real time, so I won’t always be able to jump in when there’s a problem. Please take personal responsibility for not getting dragged into flame wars. Everyone will be better off for it.

Thanks for reading and happy new year.

Our Team

Son the officiating “probably” was not the difference in the outcome. When it’s that uneven it definitely affects the game. Did the Warriors become less aggressive going to the hoop after repeatedly not getting the calls driving to the hoop? Did the calls against them every time Wade or Bosch drove to the hoop change the way they played D? Of course it had an effect. We’ll never no how much–that’s the problem. The other leagues don’t have this bad of a problem. It’s a serious problem that more fans should be voicing their concern about IMO.

dr_john

I’ve more been of the opinion that home teams get the calls, so much so that it seems that the refs are either affected by the home crowds or some other explanation—you go figure if you want to.

Season to date:

Heat 32+ FT at home and 22+ away
Dubs 22+ FT at home and 20+ away

I saw many bad calls by the refs tonight (both ways) but the difference in teams’ offenses/defenses was more relevant explanation of the FT disparity.

As I said earlier, if Miami did not go inside they would give the dubs a fighting chance.

I do agree, Smart should not have been on the bench 4th quarter. I’m tired of the smiley face culture.

Jules

New year, same rookie coach, same scared dumb coaching mistakes, same penchant for his fired master small ball philosophy, absolutely NO RESPECT shown for our PG Steph Curry… just allowing DWright & MEllis to dominate the ball and don’t pass to him when he asks for it… bottom line – it’s the same old shit! Don’t expect any changes.

But, that was the most fun 1st half on basketball entertainment I’ve watched in a long time… phew! Thanks for the distraction, and the reality was as usual waiting to rear its same old ugly head – their comfort zone.